Update notification system, update monitoring apparatus, mobile communication terminal, information processing apparatus, contents acquisition instructing method, contents acquiring method, and program storing medium

ABSTRACT

An update notification system is capable of efficiently acquiring updated contents. Provided are an update monitoring apparatus  6  for monitoring contents stored in a server  7  for their update situations to transmit an update notification signal when the contents is updated, a mobile communication terminal  3  for notifying the user that the contents have been updated, in response to receipt of the update notification signal and for transmitting an acquisition instructing signal for instructing acquisition of the updated contents, and an information processing apparatus  2  for downloading the updated contents from the server  7  in response to receipt of the acquisition instructing signal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an update notification system,an update monitoring apparatus, a mobile communication terminal, aninformation processing apparatus, a contents acquisition instructingmethod, a contents acquiring method, and a program storing medium, andmore particularly, is suitably applied to an update notification systemwhich can monitor contents on a network to acquire only updatedcontents.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] In a personal computer, when a desired uniform resource locator(URL) is entered with a web browser program running thereon, a home pageserver indicated by the entered URL is accessed through the Internetbased on the web browser program to download home page data from thehome page server and display the home page data on a monitor, therebyallowing a home page on the Internet to be viewed. Also, the contents ofthe home page data displayed by the personal computer is regularly orirregularly updated.

[0005] In the personal computer configured as described above, it cannotbe known whether or not the contents of home page data have been updatedunless the home page server is accessed. Therefore, acquisition of thelatest home page data requires frequent accesses to the home page serverto confirm whether the home page has been updated, thereby giving riseto a problem that tedious operations are imposed to the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In view of the foregoing, an object of this invention is toprovide an update notification system, an update monitoring apparatus, amobile communication terminal, an information processing apparatus, anda contents acquiring method which are capable of efficiently acquiringthe latest updated contents.

[0007] The foregoing object and other objects of the invention have beenachieved by the provision of an update monitoring apparatus comprising:a storing means for storing data indicating at least locations ofcontents to be monitored and a number of a mobile communication terminalwhich is informed of update of the contents; a monitoring processingmeans for monitoring a update state of the contents stored in aprescribed server; and a notifying means for transmitting an updatenotification signal indicating that the contents have been updated, tothe mobile communication terminal over a radio communication circuitnetwork.

[0008] Further, a mobile communication terminal comprises: a radiocommunication means for connecting by radio to a radio communicationcircuit network to perform communications; a notifying means fornotifying a user with an update notification signal that contents to bemonitored, received over the radio communication circuit network, havebeen updated; and a transmitting means for transmitting an acquisitioninstructing signal to instruct acquisition of the contents, to aprescribed information processing apparatus.

[0009] Furthermore, a mobile communication terminal comprises: a radiocommunication means for connecting by radio to a radio communicationcircuit network to perform communications; a notifying means fornotifying a user with an update notification signal that contents to bemonitored, received over the radio communication circuit network, havebeen updated; and an acquiring means for acquiring the contents storedin a prescribed server based on the update notification signal.

[0010] Furthermore, an information processing apparatus comprises: areceiving means for receiving an acquisition instructing signal toinstruct acquisition of contents which is transmitted from a mobilecommunication terminal; and an acquiring means for acquiring thecontents from a prescribed server based on the acquisition instructingsignal.

[0011] Furthermore, an update notification system comprises: a mobilecommunication terminal for notifying a user with an update notificationsignal that contents to be monitored that is received by connecting byradio to a radio communication circuit network, and for transmitting anacquisition instructing signal to instruct acquisition of the contents,to a prescribed information processing apparatus; an update monitoringapparatus for storing data indicating at least locations of the contentsto be monitored and a number of the mobile communication terminal whichis informed of update of the contents, and for transmitting the updatenotification signal to the mobile communication terminal over the radiocommunication circuit network when the contents stored in a prescribedserver is updated; and an information processing apparatus for receivingthe acquisition instructing signal to instruct acquisition of thecontent, transmitted from the mobile communication terminal, and foracquiring the contents from the prescribed server based on theacquisition instructing signal.

[0012] Furthermore, an update notification system comprises: a mobilecommunication terminal for notifying a user with an update notificationsignal that contents to be monitored which is received by connecting byradio to a radio communication circuit network, have been updated, andfor acquiring the contents stored in a prescribed server over the radiocommunication circuit network; and an update monitoring apparatus fortransmitting the update notification signal to the mobile communicationterminal over the radio communication circuit network based on update ofthe contents stored in the server.

[0013] Furthermore, a contents acquisition instructing method comprises:a receiving step of receiving an update notification signal to make anotice that contents stored in a prescribed server have been updated; anotifying step of notifying a user with the update notification signalreceived, that the contents have been updated; and a transmitting stepof transmitting an acquisition instructing signal to instructacquisition of the contents updated, to a prescribed informationprocessing apparatus.

[0014] Furthermore, a program storing medium comprises: a receiving stepof receiving an update notifying signal to make a notice that contentsstored in a prescribed server have been updated; a notifying step ofnotifying a user with the update notifying signal received that thecontents have been updated; and a transmitting step of transmitting anacquisition instructing signal to instruct acquisition of the contentsupdated, to a prescribed information processing apparatus.

[0015] The nature, principle and utility of the invention will becomemore apparent from the following detailed description when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts aredesignated by like reference numerals or characters.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] In the accompanying drawings:

[0017]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram generally illustrating theconfiguration of an update notification system according to the presentinvention;

[0018]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the circuit configurationof an update monitoring server;

[0019]FIG. 3 is a table showing the data structure for an updatemonitoring table;

[0020]FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating an update monitoring processroutine;

[0021]FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the circuit configurationof a digital mobile telephone;

[0022]FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a home page updatenotification process routine;

[0023]FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a PC wake-up process routine;

[0024]FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating the circuit configurationof a notebook type personal computer; and

[0025]FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating an update home page dataacquisition process routine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

[0026] Preferred embodiments of this invention will be described withreference to the accompanying drawings:

[0027] (1) General Configuration of Update Notification System

[0028] In FIG. 1, an update notification system, to which the presentinvention is applied, is generally designated by reference numeral 1,wherein a digital mobile telephone 3 is wirelessly connected to a basestation 4 so that it can make audio communications with another mobiletelephone or a wired telephone (not shown) connected to a public networkthrough the base station 4.

[0029] The digital mobile telephone 3 can also make data communicationswith a variety of servers such as an update monitoring server 6, a homepage server 7 and so on connected to the Internet 5, or with a varietyof communication devices such as information processing apparatus (notshown) including a personal computer, PDA and so on.

[0030] Further, a notebook type personal computer (hereinafter referredto as the “note personal computer”) 2 and a digital mobile telephone 3can communicate with each other in accordance with a wirelesscommunication scheme conforming to Bluetooth (trademark) which is ashort distance wireless communication standard, thereby enabling thenote personal computer 2 to communicate data with a variety ofcommunication devices including the update monitoring server 6, the homepage server 7 and so on connected to the Internet 5 through a nearbydigital mobile telephone 3.

[0031] Here, Bluetooth is a short distance wireless data communicationstandard which has been standardized by Bluetooth Special Interest Group(SIG), a standardization organization, wherein 79 channels having abandwidth of 1 MHz are set in a 2.4 MHz industrial scientific medical(ISM) band, and a data transmission is carried out at a datatransmission rate of 1 Mbit/second (effectively 721 kbit/second) over 10m using a spread spectrum communication scheme in accordance with thefrequency hopping which switches channels 1600 times per second.

[0032] Each of the note personal computers 2 transmits update monitoringsetting information comprised of URL of a monitored home page, thecontents of which the user wishes to monitor with respect to theirupdate situations (referred to as the “monitored URL”), and a telephonenumber of a digital mobile telephone 3 which is the destination of anupdate notification message for notifying that the monitored home pagehas been updated (referred to as the “update notification destinationnumber”), to the update monitoring server 6 through a nearby digitalmobile telephone 3.

[0033] The update monitoring server 6, which functions as an updatemonitoring apparatus, accesses each home page server 7 at apredetermined timing based on the results of totalized update monitoringsetting information transmitted from the respective note personalcomputers 2 to examine update situations of the respective monitoredhome pages, and, when a monitored home page has been updated, transmitsan update notification message to a destination digital mobile telephone3 corresponding to the updated home page.

[0034] Upon receipt of the update notification message, the digitalmobile telephone 3, which functions as a mobile communication terminal,displays the contents of the update notification message on a displayunit to make the user recognize that the monitored home page has beenupdated. Then, the digital mobile telephone 3 controls the personalcomputer 2, as an information processing apparatus, as required, todownload the updated monitored home page.

[0035] (1-1) Configuration of Update Monitoring Server

[0036] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the update monitoring server 6 has aconfiguration in which a hard disk drive 12, a random access memory(RAM) 13, and a network interface 14 are connected to a centralprocessing unit (CPU) 10 through a bus 11 for totally controlling avariety of functions in the update monitoring server 6.

[0037] The CPU 10 reads an operating system program and an updatemonitoring program, later described, stored in the hard disk drive 12 asappropriate, and loads the RAM 13 with the read programs for execution.Then, the CPU 10 is connected to the Internet 5 through the networkinterface 14 to communicate data between the note personal computer 2and the home page server 7 through the Internet 5.

[0038] The update monitoring server 6 totalizes update monitoringsetting information transmitted from the respective note personalcomputers 2. Specifically, the update monitoring server 6 generates anentry 101 by adding latest update date/time information 101B indicativeof the date and time at which the home page data of a monitored URL 101Awas updated at the last time to the monitored URL 101A and update noticedestination 101C described in the update monitoring setting information,as shown in FIG. 3. Then, the update monitoring server 6 totalizes theentries 101 to generate an update monitoring table 100 which is storedin the hard disk drive 12.

[0039] Then, the update monitoring server 6 operates in accordance withthe update monitoring program to access each home page server 7 at apredetermined timing based on the update monitoring table 100 (forexample, every hour) to monitor whether the monitored home page has beenupdated, and, when the monitored home page has been updated, transmitsan update notification message to the digital mobile telephone 3 whichhas been set as the update notice destination.

[0040] Specifically, in an update monitoring process routine illustratedin FIG. 4, the update monitoring server 6 enters from the starting stepof the routine RT1 and proceeds to step SP1. At step SP1, the CPU 10reads the first entry 101 of the update monitoring table from the harddisk drive 12, and proceeds to next step SP2.

[0041] At step SP2, the CPU 10 connects to the home page server 7 basedon the monitored URL 101A described in the read entry 101 to acquirefile information on the monitored home page, and proceeds to next stepSP3.

[0042] At step SP3, the CPU 10 compares the file update date/time of theacquired file information with the latest update date/time information101B to determine whether or not the monitored home page has beenupdated.

[0043] If a negative result is returned at step SP3, this means that thefile update date/time information is identical to the latest updatedate/time information 101B, or the latest update time/date information101B is later than the file update time/date so that the monitored homepage is not updated, followed by the CPU 10 proceeding to step SP6.

[0044] Conversely, if an affirmative result is returned at step SP3,this means that the file update date/time is later than the latestupdate date/time information 101B so that the monitored home page hasbeen updated, followed by the CPU 10 proceeding to next step SP4.

[0045] At step SP4, the CPU 10 transmits the monitored URL 101A and ahome page title described in the file information, as an updatenotification massage, to the digital mobile telephone 3 specified by theupdate notice destination 101C, and proceeds to next step SP5.

[0046] At step SP5, the CPU 10 updates the latest update date/time 101Bof the read entry with the acquired file update time/date, and writesthe updated entry into the hard disk drive 12, and proceeds to next stepSP6.

[0047] At step SP6, the CPU 10 determines whether or not the read entry101 is the last entry in the update monitoring table.

[0048] If a negative result is returned at step SP6, this means that theread entry 101 is not the last entry in the update monitoring table,causing the CPU 10 to proceed to step SP7, where the CPU 10 reads thenext entry 101 in the update monitoring table from the hard disk drive12, and then returns to step SP2.

[0049] Conversely, if an affirmative result is returned at step SP6,this means that the read entry is the last entry 101 in the updatemonitoring table so that the CPU 10 has processed all entries 101 in theupdate monitoring table, causing the CPU 10 to proceed to next step SP8to terminate the processing.

[0050] In this way, the update monitoring server 6 monitors whethermonitored home pages have been updated based on the update monitoringtable 100 every predetermined time, and, when an monitored home page hasbeen updated, transmits an update notification message to the digitalmobile telephone 3 specified as the update notice destination.

[0051] (1-2) Configuration of Digital Mobile Telephone

[0052] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the digital mobile telephone 3 has aconfiguration in which a display unit 21 comprised of a liquid crystaldisplay; a plurality of manipulation keys 22; a signal processing unit23; a flash read only memory (ROM) 24; and a short distance wirelessinterface 25 conforming to the Bluetooth standard are connected to a CPU20 for controlling the operation of the entire digital mobile telephone3. Further, a microphone 26, a speaker 27, a transmitter unit 28 and areceiver unit 29 are connected to the signal processing unit 23.

[0053] The CPU 20 displays a variety of information (for example, anentered telephone number, menu items, transmission log, telephonedirectory, and so on) on the display unit 21 in accordance withinstruction information entered through the manipulation keys 22. TheCPU 20 also controls the signal processing unit 23 in accordance withinstruction information entered through the manipulation keys 22 toexecute a variety of processing in accordance with the instructioninformation such as call origination, call termination, or the like.

[0054] Actually, the digital mobile telephone 3 is a CDMA (Code DivisionMultiple Access) cellular mobile telephone in accordance with a DS(Direct Sequence) scheme which supports the IS95 standard. During acall, the signal processing unit 23 performs CRC (Cyclic RedundancyCheck) based error correction on a speech signal entered from themicrophone 26, and then performs convolution encoding on the resultingspeech signal. Further, the signal processing unit 23 multiplies theconvolution encoded speech signal by a PN (Pseudo-Noise) code forfrequency spreading, and then QPSK (Quadrature Phase Shift Keying)modulates the spread signal to generate a transmit symbol stream whichis inputted to the transmitter unit 28. The transmitter unit 28digital-to-analog converts the transmit symbol stream to generate atransmit signal, frequency converts the transmit signal, and amplifiesthe frequency converted transmit signal which is finally transmittedthrough an antenna 30.

[0055] On the other hand, the receiver unit 29 amplifies a receivedsignal received through the antenna 30, frequency converts the receivedsignal, and then analog-to-digital converts the resulting receivedsignal to generate a received symbol stream which is inputted to thesignal processing unit 23. The signal processing unit 23 QPSKdemodulates the received symbol stream, and multiplies the demodulatedsymbol stream by a PN code for despreading. Further, the signalprocessing unit 23 uses convolution encoding for most likely sequenceestimation, and performs CRC based error detection to generate a speechsignal which is outputted through the speaker 27.

[0056] Also, the signal processing unit 23 transmits a control signal tothe base station 4 (FIG. 1) through the transmitter unit 28 and theantenna 30 under control of the CPU 20 for call origination, andreceives an incoming signal through the antenna 30 and the receiver unit29, and notifies the CPU 20 of the incoming signal.

[0057] The CPU 20 controls the signal processing unit 23 to makewireless data communications with another communication terminalconnected to a public network or the Internet 5 through the transmitterunit 28, receiver unit 29 and antenna 30.

[0058] Also, the CPU 20 controls the short distance wireless interface25 to make wireless data communications with the nearby note personalcomputer 2 (FIG. 1), which supports Bluetooth, through an antenna 31,and transmits a wake-up signal to the note personal computer 2 inresponse to a depression on a PC wake-up button (not shown) provided inthe manipulation keys 22 so that the note personal computer 2 in a sleepmode can be woken up.

[0059] Further, the CPU 20 exchanges communication data between thesignal processing unit 23 and the short distance wireless interface 25,thereby enabling wireless data communications to be made between thenote personal computer 2 and another communication terminal connected toa public network through the digital mobile telephone 3.

[0060] In addition, upon receipt of an update notification messagetransmitted from the update monitoring server 6, the digital mobiletelephone 3 is responsive thereto to display the contents of the updatenotification message on the display unit 21, and to notify the user thatthe update notification message has been received with predeterminedmessage incoming sound generated from the speaker 27, in accordance witha home page update notification program stored in the flash ROM 24.

[0061] Specifically, in a home page update notification process routineillustrated in FIG. 6, the digital mobile telephone 3 enters from thestarting step of the routine RT2, and proceeds to step SP21. At stepSP21, upon receipt of an update notification message from the updatemonitoring server 6, the CPU 20 proceeds to next step SP22.

[0062] At step SP22, the CPU 20 displays the contents of the receivedupdate notification message (monitored URL 101A and home page title) onthe display unit 21, and proceeds to next step SP23.

[0063] At step SP23, the CPU 20 notifies the user that the updatenotification message has been received with predetermined messageincoming sound generated from the speaker 27, and returns to step SP21.

[0064] In this way, the digital mobile telephone 3 displays the updatenotification message in response to the receipt thereof, and generatesthe message incoming sound to notify the user that the updatenotification message has been received.

[0065] In this state, when user is going to view the home page indicatedby the update notification message, the user presses the PC wake-upbutton on the digital mobile telephone 3.

[0066] The digital mobile telephone 3, in accordance with a home pageupdate notification program, adds the monitored URL 101A described inthe update notification message to a wake-up signal for transmission tothe note personal computer 2 in response to a depression on the PCwake-up button while the update notification message is being displayed.

[0067] In this way, the digital mobile telephone 3 wakes up the notepersonal computer 2 from the sleep mode, allowing the note personalcomputer 2 to download updated home page data indicated by the monitoredURL 101A for displaying the updated home page data thereon.

[0068] Specifically, in a PC wake-up process routine illustrated in FIG.7, the digital mobile telephone 3 enters from the starting step of theroutine RT3 and proceeds to step SP31. At step SP31, the CPU 20 proceedsto next step SP32 in response to a depression on the PC wake-up button.

[0069] At step SP32, the CPU 20 determines whether or not an updatenotification message is being displayed on the display unit 21. If anegative result is returned at step SP32, this means that no updatenotification message is being displayed on the display unit 21, i.e.,any of monitored home pages is not updated, causing the CPU 20 toproceed to step SP34, where only a wake-up signal is transmitted to thenote personal computer 2, followed by the CPU 20 returning to step SP31.

[0070] Conversely, if an affirmative result is returned at step SP32,this means that an update notification massage is being displayed on thedisplay unit 21, i.e., any of monitored home pages has been updated,causing the CPU 20 to proceed to step SP34, where the CPU 20 transmits awake-up signal with the monitored URL 101A added thereto (referred to asthe “download instructing signal”) to the note personal computer 2, andreturns to step SP31.

[0071] (1-3) Configuration of Note Personal Computer

[0072] As illustrated in FIG. 8, the personal computer 2 has aconfiguration in which a CPU 40; a random access memory (RAM) 41; adisplay unit 42 comprised of a liquid crystal display; a keyboard 43; ahard disk drive 44; a power control unit 45; a short distance wirelessinterface 46 conforming to the Bluetooth standard; and a touch pad 47are connected to a data bus BUS.

[0073] The hard disk drive 44 stores an operating system program such asWindows 98 (a trademark of Microsoft Corporation) or the like, and avariety of application programs such as an updated home page dataacquisition program, later described, and so on.

[0074] The CPU 40 reads a program stored in the hard disk drive 44 asappropriate into the RAM 41 for running the read program to perform avariety of processing, wherein the CPU 40 controls respective circuitunits in the note personal computer 2 in accordance with the processing,and displays the result of the processing on the display unit 42.

[0075] The power control unit 45 controls power supply to respectivecircuit units of the note personal computer 2, and supplies the power tothe short distance wireless interface 37 at all times even when the notepersonal computer 2 is in the sleep mode.

[0076] The short distance wireless interface 46 makes wireless datacommunications with the digital mobile telephone 3 (FIG. 1), which is anearby Bluetooth supporting device, through an antenna 48. It should benoted that the short distance wireless interface 46 is operative at alltimes even when the note personal computer 2 is in the sleep mode. Uponreceipt of a wake-up signal from the digital mobile telephone 3 in thesleep mode, the short distance wireless interface 46 responsivelyoutputs a wake-up instruction to the power control unit 45 to startsupplying the power to the respective circuit units, which constitutethe note personal computer 2, to wake up the note personal computer 2.

[0077] In addition to the foregoing configuration, the note personalcomputer 2 is configured to rely on the updated home page dataacquisition program, such that upon receipt of a wake-up signal with theadditional update monitored URL 101A, i.e., a download instructingsignal from the digital mobile telephone 3, the note personal computer 2downloads home page data indicated by the update monitored URL 101A fromthe home page server 7 through the digital mobile telephone 3 fordisplay on the display unit 42.

[0078] Specifically, in the updated home page data acquisition processroutine illustrated in FIG. 9, the note personal computer 2 enters fromthe starting step of the routine RT4, and proceeds to step SP41. At stepSP41, the short distance wireless interface 46 receives a wake-up signaltransmitted from the digital mobile telephone 3, and proceeds to nextstep SP42.

[0079] At step SP42, the short distance wireless interface 46 determineswhether or not the note personal computer 2 is operating in the sleepmode. If a negative result is returned at step SP42, this means that thenote personal computer 2 is not operating in the sleep mode, i.e., thenote personal computer 2 has been woken up, causing the short distancewireless interface 46 to proceed to next step SP44.

[0080] Conversely, if an affirmative result is returned at step SP42,this means that the note personal computer 2 is operating in the sleepmode, causing the short distance wireless interface 46 to proceed tostep SP34.

[0081] At step SP43, the short distance wireless interface 46 outputs awake-up instruction to the power control unit 36, forcing the powercontrol unit 36 to start supplying the power to the respective circuitunits which constitute the note personal computer 2, to wake up the notepersonal computer 2.

[0082] Next, at step SP44, the CPU 40 determines whether or not thereceived wake-up signal includes an update monitored URL 101A addedthereto, i.e., whether or not the note personal computer 2 has receiveda download instructing signal. If a negative result is returned at stepSP44, this means that no update monitored URL 101A is added to thewake-up signal, i.e., no download instructing signal is received,causing the CPU 40 to proceed to step SP46.

[0083] Conversely, if an affirmative result is returned at step SP44,this means that the update monitored URL 101A is added to the wake-upsignal, i.e., the download instructing signal has been received, causingthe CPU 40 to proceed to step SP45.

[0084] At step SP45, the CPU 40 accesses the home page server 6 based onthe update monitored URL 101A, acquires home page data from the homepage server 6, displays the home page data on the display unit 42, andproceeds to next step SP46.

[0085] At step SP46, the CPU 40 monitors the keyboard 43 and the touchpad 47 for entry manipulations thereon, and brings the note personalcomputer 2 into the sleep mode when such entry manipulations areinterrupted for a predetermined time period. Then, the CPU 40 returns tostep SP41.

[0086] In this way, the note personal computer 2 downloads and displaysthe home page data indicated by the update monitored URL 101A inresponse to the download instructing signal.

[0087] (2) Operation and Effect of Embodiment

[0088] In the configuration described above, the monitoring server 6accesses the home page server 7 based on an update monitoring table tomonitor each of monitored home pages for its update situation, andtransmits an update notification massage to the digital mobile telephone3 corresponding thereto if the monitored home page has been updated.

[0089] The digital mobile telephone 3 displays the received updatenotification message to notify the user that the monitored home page hasbeen updated. Then, the digital mobile telephone 3 transmits a downloadinstructing signal to the note personal computer 2 in response to amanipulation of the user, causing the note personal computer 2 todownload home page data of the updated monitored home page.

[0090] According to the foregoing configuration, the note personalcomputer 2 need not access the home page server only for confirmingwhether an intended home page has been updated, and can download onlythe recently updated home page data in response to the downloadinstructing signal transmitted from the digital mobile telephone 3.

[0091] Also, the user can rapidly know that a monitored home page hasbeen updated by the update notification message transmitted by theupdate monitoring server 6 to the digital mobile telephone 3 which iscarried by the user at all times. In addition, the user can readilydownload the updated home page to the note personal computer 2 only bydepressing the PC wake-up button on the digital mobile telephone 3.

[0092] (3) Other Embodiments

[0093] In the foregoing embodiments, after the digital mobile telephone3 has received and displayed an update notification message, the digitalmobile telephone 3 transmits the download instructing signal to the notepersonal computer 2 in response to a manipulation of the user. Thepresent invention, however, is not limited to this manner oftransmitting the download instructing signal. Alternatively, uponreceipt of the update notification message, the digital mobile telephone3 may responsively transmit the download instructing signal to the notepersonal computer 2. In this case, the note personal computer 2 can morerapidly download home page data.

[0094] Also, in the foregoing embodiment, the personal computer 2downloads home page data in response to the download instructing signal.The present invention, however, is not limited to the downloading ofdata into the note personal computer 2. Alternatively, the home pagedata may be downloaded to a desk top type personal computer, or avariety of information processing apparatus such as PDA.

[0095] Further, in the foregoing embodiment, the note personal computer2 downloads home page data in response to the download instructingsignal. The present invention, however, is not limited to thedownloading of home page data, but a variety of contents, for example,music data, image data, programs, and so on may be downloaded.

[0096] Further, while the foregoing embodiment employs a short distancewireless interface conforming to the Bluetooth standard as communicationmeans between the digital mobile telephone 3 and the note personalcomputer 2, the present invention is not limited to this particularinterface but may employ a variety of communication means, for example,a short distance wireless communication such as Home RF defined by IEEE(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802, an infraredcommunication conforming to the IrDA (Infrared Data Association)standard, and so on to connect the digital mobile telephone 3 with thenote personal computer 2. Further alternatively, a wired interface suchas a universal serial bus (USB) or the like may be used to connect thedigital mobile telephone 3 with the note personal computer 2. Inaddition, the digital mobile telephone 3 may be contained in the notepersonal computer 2.

[0097] Further, while the foregoing embodiment employs a CDMA-basedcellular mobile telephone as the digital mobile telephone 3, the presentinvention is not limited to the CDMA, but may employ mobile telephonesof a variety of schemes, for example, a W (Wideband)-CDMA scheme, a timedivision multiple access (TDMA) scheme, an IMT-2000 (InternationalMobile Telecommunication System) scheme, which is a mobile telephonescheme of the next generation, and so on.

[0098] Further, in the foregoing embodiment, the digital mobiletelephone 3 receives the update notification message and transmits thedownload instructing signal to the note personal computer 2. The presentinvention, however, is not limited to the digital mobile telephone 3which receives the update notification message and transmits thedownload instructing signal. Alternatively, any of various mobilecommunication terminals may be used as long as it is capable ofreceiving and displaying the update notification message from themonitoring server 6 and transmitting the download instructing signal tothe note personal computer 2, for example, a pager having a shortdistance wireless interface and so on.

[0099] Further, in the foregoing embodiment, the note personal computer2 downloads home page data through the digital mobile telephone 3 inresponse to the download instructing signal. The present invention,however, is not limited to this manner of downloading the home pagedata. Alternatively, the home page data may be downloaded through awired line such as a wired telephone line, a dedicated line, or thelike.

[0100] Further, in the foregoing embodiment, the CPU 10 in the updatemonitoring server 6 monitors whether a monitored home page has beenupdated and transmits the update notification message in accordance withthe update monitoring program which has been previously stored in thehard disk drive 12, while the CPU 31 of the note personal computer 2downloads the monitored home page in accordance with the updated homepage data acquisition program which has been previously stored in thehard disk drive 44. The present invention, however, is not limited tothis manner of downloading the monitored home page. Alternatively, theupdate monitoring program or the update home page data acquisitionprogram may have been stored in a variety of program storing media suchthat the update monitoring program or the updated home page dataacquisition program is installed into the update monitoring server 6 orthe note personal computer 2 using any of the program storing media.

[0101] As described above, for the program storing media for installingthe update monitoring program or the updated home page data acquisitionprogram into the update monitoring server 6 or the note personalcomputer 2 so that the program is executable thereon, not only packagemedia, for example, a floppy disk, a digital video disc-read only memory(DVD-ROM)) and so on, but also a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk,and so on, which temporarily or permanently store the programs, may beused for implementation. Also, means for storing the update monitoringprogram or the update home page data acquisition program on theseprogram storing media may be implemented by wired and wirelesscommunication media such as a local area network, the Internet, digitalsatellite broadcasting and so on. Alternatively, the programs may bestored with a variety of intervening interfaces such as a router, amodem, and so on.

[0102] Further, in the foregoing embodiment, the CPU 20 in the digitalmobile telephone 3 displays the update notification message andtransmits the download instructing signal in accordance with the homepage update notification program which has been previously stored in theflash ROM 24. The present invention, however, is not limited to thestorage of the home page update notification program in the flash ROM24. Alternatively, the home page update notification program may bestored in a variety of program storing media, such that any of theprogram storing media is used to install the home page updatenotification program into the digital mobile telephone 3.

[0103] Thus, for the program storing media for installing theaforementioned home page update notification program into the digitalmobile telephone 3 so that the program is executable thereon, not onlypackage media, for example, a floppy disk, digital video disc-read onlymemory (DVD-ROM) and so on, but also a semiconductor memory, a magneticdisk, and so on, which temporarily or permanently store the programs,may be used for implementation. Also, means for storing the updatemonitoring program or the update home page data acquisition program onthese program storing media may be implemented by wired and wirelesscommunication media such as a local area network, the Internet, digitalsatellite broadcasting and so on. Alternatively, the programs may bestored with a variety of intervening interfaces such as a router, amodem, and so on.

[0104] As described above, according to the present invention, since theupdate monitoring apparatus monitors the contents to transmit an updatenotification signal in response to an update to the contents, the serverneed not be frequently accessed by an information processing apparatusonly for confirming whether the contents have been updated. Also, sincethe update notification signal is transmitted to a mobile communicationterminal carried by the user at all times, the user can be rapidlynotified that the contents have been updated.

[0105] While there has been described in connection with the preferredembodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in theart that various changes and modifications may be aimed, therefore, tocover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications as fallwithin the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An update monitoring apparatus, comprising:storing means for storing data indicating at least locations of contentsto be monitored and a number of a mobile communication terminal which isinformed of update of said contents; monitoring processing means formonitoring a update state of said contents stored in a prescribedserver; and notifying means for transmitting an update notificationsignal indicating that said contents have been updated, to said mobilecommunication terminal over a radio communication circuit network. 2.The update monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidupdate notification signal has data indicating at least said locationsof said contents.
 3. A mobile communication terminal comprising: radiocommunication means for connecting by radio to a radio communicationcircuit network to perform communications; notifying means for notifyinga user with an update notification signal that contents to be monitored,received over said radio communication circuit network, have beenupdated; and transmitting means for transmitting an acquisitioninstructing signal to instruct acquisition of said contents, to aprescribed information processing apparatus.
 4. The mobile communicationterminal according to claim 3, wherein said notifying means shows thatsaid contents have been updated, on a display screen.
 5. The mobilecommunication terminal according to claim 3, wherein said acquisitioninstructing signal has data indicating at least locations of saidcontents.
 6. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 3,wherein said transmitting means transmits said acquisition instructingsignal to said information processing apparatus by radio for shortdistance.
 7. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 3,further comprising operation inputting means for instructingtransmission of said acquisition instructing signal.
 8. A mobilecommunication terminal, comprising: radio communication means forconnecting by radio to a radio communication circuit network to performcommunications; notifying means for notifying a user with an updatenotification signal that contents to be monitored, received over saidradio communication circuit network, have been updated; and acquiringmeans for acquiring said contents stored in a prescribed server based onsaid update notification signal.
 9. The mobile communication terminalaccording to claim 8, wherein said acquiring means acquires saidcontents stored in said server, over said radio communication circuitnetwork.
 10. An information processing apparatus, comprising: receivingmeans for receiving an acquisition instructing signal to instructacquisition of contents which is transmitted from a mobile communicationterminal; and acquiring means for acquiring said contents from aprescribed server based on said acquisition instructing signal.
 11. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein saidacquiring means connects by radio to a radio communication circuitnetwork via said mobile communication terminal connected by radio forshort distance, to acquire said contents from said prescribed server.12. An update notification system, comprising: a mobile communicationterminal for notifying a user with an update notification signal thatcontents to be monitored that is received by connecting by radio to aradio communication circuit network, and for transmitting an acquisitioninstructing signal to instruct acquisition of said contents, to aprescribed information processing apparatus; an update monitoringapparatus for storing data indicating at least locations of saidcontents to be monitored and a number of said mobile communicationterminal which is informed of update of said contents, and fortransmitting said update notification signal to said mobilecommunication terminal over said radio communication circuit networkwhen said contents stored in a prescribed server is updated; and aninformation processing apparatus for receiving said acquisitioninstructing signal to instruct acquisition of said content, transmittedfrom said mobile communication terminal, and for acquiring said contentsfrom said prescribed server based on said acquisition instructingsignal.
 13. An update notification system, comprising: a mobilecommunication terminal for notifying a user with an update notificationsignal that contents to be monitored which is received by connecting byradio to a radio communication circuit network, have been updated, andfor acquiring said contents stored in a prescribed server over saidradio communication circuit network; and an update monitoring apparatusfor transmitting said update notification signal to said mobilecommunication terminal over said radio communication circuit networkbased on update of said contents stored in said server.
 14. A contentsacquisition instructing method, comprising: a receiving step ofreceiving an update notification signal to make a notice that contentsstored in a prescribed server have been updated; a notifying step ofnotifying a user with said update notification signal received, thatsaid contents have been updated; and a transmitting step of transmittingan acquisition instructing signal to instruct acquisition of saidcontents updated, to a prescribed information processing apparatus. 15.The contents acquisition instructing method, comprising: a receivingstep of receiving an acquisition instruction signal which is transmittedfrom a prescribed communication terminal in response to an updatenotification signal to make a notice that contents stored in aprescribed server have been updated; and a contents acquiring step ofacquiring said contents updated from said server in response to saidacquisition instructing signal received.
 16. A program storing medium,comprising: a receiving step of receiving an update notifying signal tomake a notice that contents stored in a prescribed server have beenupdated; a notifying step of notifying a user with said update notifyingsignal received that said contents have been updated; and a transmittingstep of transmitting an acquisition instructing signal to instructacquisition of said contents updated, to a prescribed informationprocessing apparatus.